EWG Releases a ‘Hall of Shame’ Household Cleaner Report

The Environmental Working Group is working on compiling an extensive database that exposes the harmful toxic chemicals found in thousands of common household cleaners, similar to their popular Skin Deep Database. They have released a sneak peak report highlighting just a few of the most noxious products they’ve identified so far.

From their report:

“In a ground-breaking initiative to uncover the truth about toxic chemicals in common household products, the Environmental Working Group has unearthed compelling evidence that hundreds of cleaners, even some of those hyped as “green” or “natural,” can inflict serious harm on unwary users. Many present severe risks to children who may ingest or spill them or breathe their fumes.

The first edition of the EWG Cleaners Database is due for release in fall 2012. Already, our research has turned up products loaded with extremely toxic compounds banned in some countries. Some of their ingredients are known to cause cancer, blindness, asthma and other serious conditions. Others are greenwashed, meaning that they are not, as their ad hype claims, environmentally benign. Still more hide the facts about their formulations behind vague terms like “fragrance.” To empower consumers, the EWG Cleaners Hall of Shame, published in anticipation of the full database, highlights the worst of the worst –so far.

Though many Americans assume government bodies oversee the safety of the multi-billion-dollar household cleaning products industry, it is largely unregulated. The EWG Cleaners Database aims to fill this information gap in order to give people straight facts developed by independent scientists.”

Among the worst offenders EWG identified: “mystery mixtures” like some Target and Walmart brand cleaners, which list no ingredients or use only vague terms like “solvent”; all major brands of air fresheners, which are fatal if directly inhaled; spray cleaners like Clorox, Fantastik, Febreze, Formula 409, Lysol and others, which contain chemicals that can cause asthma attacks.

Even products labeled “green” make the list for hiding hazardous ingredients.

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